GWM Poer300 (2026 - ) review

The Poer300’s cargo space is a bedlined 1.5 metre by 1.5 metre basin capable of carrying over 1,000 kg and is equipped with a soft-drop tailgate. It’s a bit more than half a metre deep, too, which you don’t always see on pick-up trucks meaning you can carry slightly larger bits of cargo. At the middle and highest trims you get central locking, and the tailgate has a brilliant built-in step ladder that slides out of the tailgate making stepping up into the load space super easy. The step is such a good feature it makes you wonder why every other truck on the market hasn't copied it yet! If you want a bit more protection for your load, the truck can be fitted with canopies and shutters and we reckon a ‘canopied’ Poer300 looks better than an ‘uncanopied’ one. The one we had featured a roller shutter… which was jammed shut and couldn’t be opened, not great but it happens. You’ll even be able to tow weights of up to 3,500 kg – we managed that weight up a wet grassy slope without much fuss. Overall, this truck offers good practicality for the money… and did we mention how much we like the tailgate step?

It’s a great cabin for a truck in this price bracket with a lot of equipment available from standard. Comfortable seats, nice materials, great big 12.3-inch touch-screen infotainment display, a clear digital driver information display, wireless device charging as standard, wireless device connectivity through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, loads of USB sockets in the front and back, good leg room and more. The only ‘watchout’ is the low vehicle height which translates to a little less head room than you might expect. We like the comfortable seats and arty etchings of the pick-up truck on the dash above the glovebox… it feels modern and tasteful with responsive tech in all the right places. The steering wheel controls are also very easy to use with reassuring pressure clicks and nice rocker buttons on each side of the wheel’s control clusters. This is where the vehicle feels more expensive than it is and we love it. GWM could have gone nuts with screen sizes and fancy tools, but opted for clean style and intentionally-intuitive design. 

The diesel-only Poer300 is powered by a 2.4-litre engine outputting around 181 horsepower shifting you up through its nine-speed automatic gearbox. Stated mpg is around 33, but over the week we had it the average circled 29 mpg. This is pretty good for such a big truck, so really the only concerns are the vehicle’s overall cost – easily broken down on finance or a lease – and the prices at the pumps. There are, as yet, no plans to offer other more frugal powertrains. 

The Poer300 comes with a five-year / 125,000-mile warranty, which is very good and only matched by Isuzu’s warranties on its D-Max and only exceeded by the ten-year warranties offered by Toyota on the Hilux. A long warranty means the manufacturer is confident in the vehicle it’s created, so we’ll give it credit for that. 

The vehicle performs its duties as a go-anywhere, load-carrying pick-up truck well. Off-road, the Poer300 matches up to any competitor truck’s capabilities. During our controlled off-road experience at the launch in 2025 the vehicle handled every obstacle with ease under load – muddy trenches, steep inclines and slick wet grass didn’t trouble it. Switching to 4L mode slows everything down and we crawled through tight, steep turns without any trouble. We even drove through deep mud without getting stuck. Going downhill was just as easy after we flipped a switch to activate the hill descent control system. The easy-to-use 4x4 system is the jewel in this truck’s crown. Some have too many confusing buttons, but the POER300 is different. Every single switch is easy to find and activates cleanly. This is a great 4x4 vehicle, perfect for farm work, costs less than other trucks, but it performs just as well. The new Hilux is easier to use – especially the always-on 4x4 system in the BEV version – but the Poer300 can match it in terms of pure capabilities. On-road, well, head to the next section for more on how it performs there, although we will mention here how much we like the aircraft-inspired drive selector stick. Very cool. 

We’ve covered the off-road capabilities, so let’s shift over to how it handles on-road driving… undoubtedly the most common type of driving you’ll do in a double cab pick-up. Steering is nice and light on any road surface, and while we expected a more car-like drive it actually feels heavy and planted to the road – which is why lighter steering is very important. It’s a delicate balancing act for the truck to perform… off-road feels comfortable because you expect the bumps and shifts, while on-road the suspension system makes you feel every lump and bump in the tarmac, but not enough to become a serious deal breaker. Power delivery is fine, and while you might want a bit more oomph from the big engine, you really only get enough to do what you need. There’s the slightest hint of over-keen haptic feedback and steering pull from the lane departure safety system, which can be deactivated, but it’s a good safety system even if it does get a bit confused when lane lines disappear on country roads. We go back to the price for reassurance here because you must expect some compromises in competitively-priced trucks. It helps that the vehicle’s comfortable interior is a nice place to be, we found ourselves forgiving it because its seats were so comfortable. Oh, and the truck's ‘sport’ mode is great fun to experience as it peaks the revs and dishes out a bit more power… although it’s not the most efficient way to drive it. 

The Poer300 features an array of safety systems including emergency fuel cut-off, front and rear collision warning, Smart Dodge, Lane Keeping Assist, driver fatigue monitoring system and a blind-spot monitor. The truck also features trailer sway systems and the top two trims come with a 360-degree surround-view camera and rear parking sensors. It’s not yet rated by Euro NCAP, but in Australia it’s considered a five-star safety rated vehicle.

The Poer300 is available in three distinct trim levels: ‘not-so-basic’ Lux, Ultra and Vanta. Entry-level Lux is surprisingly plush, offering fancy LED headlamps, auto-folding mirrors, wipe-clean leatherette seats, a full tech suite with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and enough safety sensors to protect your bumper from bad depth perception. Stepping up to Ultra enhances the cabin by adding a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated leather seats, ambient lighting, a sunroof, and a 360-degree camera that makes parking a doddle. And top-tier Vanta takes everything from the Ultra and dips it in black paint, swapping out the wheels, grille, badges, handles, and sports bar for Darth Vader-inspired chic touches. 

You’ll buy the Poer300 because you want to drive an affordable double cab pick-up truck that can carry over 1,000 kg of weight in the back, holds its own off-road, drives fine on-road and you can let a few wobbles slide. This truck aims to be a good deal, and it is. There’s so much tech, spec and equipment you’ll have to check the lower-than-expected price twice. The Poer300 brings the power and is well worth a look.